Happy 11th Birthday, Zachariah!

Wow, only 2 years from being a teenager! So incredible how far we've come since we brought home that little 4lb5oz preemie 11 years ago. We had a busy birthday weekend, mine on the 30th and Zach's on the 31st. Shawn got me a really neat rose that will always bloom, it is battery operated and opens the red flower at the touch of a button with a message inside, then touch again, and the bloom closes. He took the children and I to Texas Roadhouse for our birthday supper. Zach's grandma Karen took him to Applebee's on Thursday night for his birthday supper with Grandma and Papa. Saturday evening, Grandma Karen and Papa Chris brought over cake and ice cream for my birthday and got me a really nice jean skirt with a white shirt. Thanks so much! We had mayonnaise cake with peanut butter icing on Sunday for Zach. Zach got an 18 speed bike from his Dad and Mom, a lot of Play Mobile knights and accessories from Grandma Karen, money from Aunt Diana, and his first tool kit with real tools, squirt guns, bike equipment and sandals from Aunt Angie. Thanks for your gifts and supporting Zach by eating birthday cake with us. In the afternoon, the children and I went visiting Grandma's taking some white flowers from our hill. First to Grandma Mary, who is 96, and then to Grandma Hattie, who is 86. We stopped at the Lake on the way home and the children played on the playground. We took an adventurous walk near the water, up the hill, down the little path toward the water edge, with Hannah leading. She was almost to the waters edge when she turned around and high tailed it up the hill excitedly saying, "Go Back GO BACK!" WELL, with that yell(and the hissing I heard) we quickly high tailed it back up the hill and asked at the top what was it. She said it was a mad goose and it was making itself big and hissing. I know they can get mean, so I'm glad she was the one that went first and not Noah, who might have just told the silly goose to be quiet! :) Anyway, Happy Birthday, dear Zach, how we love you and are so glad to have you in our family! Here is a picture of Grandma Mary.